Page:Beauty for Ashes.djvu/53

 therefore, go to show not only his own opinions on the subject immediately before him, but also what he thought was the belief of the Assembly:

"It is necessary for us to consider the punishment due to Original Sin, as such, and how it differs from a greater degree thereof, which is due to its increasing guilt.

"The punishment due to Original Sin, as such, namely, in those who are charged with no other guilt, but that of Adam's first sin. This more especially respects those that die in their infancy, before they are capable of making any addition to it. Concerning these, I cannot but conclude with Augustin, in his defence of Original Sin against the Pelagians, that the punishment thereof is the most mild of any, and cannot be reckoned so great, as that it might be said of them, that it had been better for them not to have been born.

"Those, who die in infancy, will appear, at the last day, to have been a very considerable part of mankind. And some tender parents who have had a due concern of spirit about their future state, would be very glad, were it possible for them, to have some hopes concerning the happiness thereof.

"Various have been the conjectures of divines about it. The Pelagians, and those who verge towards their scheme, have concluded, that they are all saved, as supposing that they are innocent, and not, in the least, concerned in Adam's sin: but this is to set aside the doctrine we are maintaining; and therefore I cannot think their reasoning in this respect, very conclusive.

"Others, who do not deny original sin, suppose, notwithstanding, that the guilt thereof is atoned for by the blood of Christ. This would be a very agreeable notion could it be proved; and all that I shall say, in answer to it, is, that it